diodepumping

Diode pumping, also known as semiconductor laser pumping or laser diode pumping, is a method of exciting a gain medium to achieve population inversion, which is necessary for laser operation. In this technique, laser diodes are used as the light source to pump the gain medium. Laser diodes are semiconductor devices that emit coherent light when an electric current passes through them. The wavelength of the light emitted by the laser diode is chosen to be strongly absorbed by the gain medium. This absorption process transfers energy from the pump photons to the atoms or molecules within the gain medium, raising them to higher energy levels.

The primary advantage of diode pumping is its high efficiency. Laser diodes convert electrical energy into light with a relatively high efficiency, and the pumping process itself is efficient because the absorption bandwidth of the gain medium can be precisely matched to the narrow emission spectrum of the laser diode. This leads to less wasted energy as heat compared to other pumping methods like flashlamp pumping. Diode-pumped lasers are also known for their compact size, long operational life, and stability. The precise control over the pump light intensity and wavelength offered by laser diodes allows for fine tuning of laser output characteristics. This technology has found widespread applications in various fields, including industrial materials processing, scientific research, medical treatments, and telecommunications.